Professor of Networking on the Power of Schmoozing

At best, the word networking conjures up images of standing awkwardly at a party, delicately balancing a drink in one hand while you exchange cards with someone you will probably never see again. At worst, it brings to mind a hustler who thrusts their card aggressively in your face with barely a hello uttered, all the while scanning over your shoulder for someone more important.

Not surprisingly, the very idea is enough to strike terror into the hearts of most introverted workers, who don’t relish the idea of walking into a room full of strangers and striking up conversations.

Hobsbawm, who was recently appointed visiting professor in networking at Cass Business School, at City University, London, says in an increasingly global workforce, workers cannot afford to ignore the competitive edge it can give.

Previously perceived as a “soft” skill,” Hobsbawm, who also runs networking business Editorial Intelligence, says effective networking will make the difference “between a highly skilled worker and an average worker.”

“I think professional workers and their employers are going to come to appreciate and understand networking as more of a hard skill than a soft skill,” she says.

“We take for granted now that certain types of qualifications have to be achieved, and in this global marketplace, where a worker in Nairobi, or a worker in Bombay, or a worker in New York or London, is directly competing with workers they’ve never met, what will give them the edge is the knowledge skills.”